"You Just Survived A Grueling Match In The Extreme Heat At The US Open. Now What?" - Peter Bodo
The players who survived the dangerous heat and humidity that plagued the US Open on Tuesday and Wednesday now face a challenge that's less obvious, but no less daunting: recovery. Not just recovering, but recovering sufficiently to find their A-games in the next round. It includes techniques like ice baths and massage. Less obvious: the need to replace carbohydrates. "It's not even the days after, it's hours after,” said Melissa Leber, MD, director of emergency department sports medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital and US Open consultant and player physician. It's important to have a meal with high fat content and load up with carbs as soon as 30 minutes after a match, she said. Since most players would be hard-pressed to force down food so soon after a stressful match in the heat, liquid meals are the usual solution. These remedial measures all help, as does shrewd tactical play during hot days.
- Melissa D. Leber, MD, Assistant Professor, Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, Emergency Department Sports Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, US Open Consultant and Player Physician